By When students think about getting admission to a college, their first thought is: college essay.
It feels like your entire future depends on these few hundred words, right? Well, the pressure is real.
Admission committee officers read thousands of essays every year. Therefore, the real struggle is to stand out from others and convince them.
But here’s a thing: sometimes students try so hard to impress that they end up choosing the wrong topics or writing essays that don’t just connect.
If this sounds like you, don’t worry–you’re not alone.
In this guide, we will discuss the most common college essay mistakes, the topics to avoid, and important tips to remember when writing your essay. This way, you will see a clearer picture of what works and what doesn’t.
Mistake #1: Writing About Common Topics
Can you read the same type of essays and content over and over again? Well, you will be bored with the same topics, right?
That’s what admission committee officers go through. In addition, some topics have been written so many times that even if the story is genuine, it won’t feel like one.
So, here are some commonly overused college essay topics to avoid:
- The big sports victory: college essays on winning the championship or scoring the winning goal are very common. And yes, officers have read these kinds of topics a lot. So unless your story has a unique and different perspective (like what losing taught you that winning), it might feel repetitive.
- The mission trip essay: traveling abroad to help people can be a wonderful experience. However, writing about it often comes across as cliché. In addition, the issue with such topics is that they focus more on the communities you have helped rather than on your personal growth.
- The “overcoming injury” story: Indeed, resilience is important. But writing only about your injury or how you recovered from a bone fracture might not highlight your depth as a deep thinker.
- The celebrity influence: Talking about how a famous person has inspired you. Oh my god, please avoid!
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Mistake #2: Trying Too Hard To Impress
There’s a common misconception among students that using big ideas or complex words will sound impressive. But here’s a secret: authenticity beats fancy vocabulary every time.
Let me tell you: admission committee officers don’t want to read an essay that looks like it has just come out of the thesaurus. Instead, they want to see your natural voice, just like you are having a normal conversation with them.
Instead of:
“The juxtaposition of my academic aspirations with my relentless pursuit of extracurricular enlightenment illuminated my path.”
Write:
“Balancing school and activities wasn’t always easy, but it taught me how to manage my time and stay focused.”
Can you see the difference? Simple and easy language sounds more human. Also, if you struggle with this, then you may get admission essay help Dubai from experts to make your content understandable and easy for readers.
Mistake #3: Forgetting The Essay Prompt
This might sound obvious, but many students get carried away with their storytelling and forget the main point: answering the essay question.
For example, if the prompt asks, “Describe a challenge you faced and what you learned from it.” Don’t take up 80% of the word count to describe the problem. Instead, you must focus more on learning, growth, and reflection.
A great rule of thumb: for every detail about the event, add something about what it taught you or how it has shaped you.
Mistake #4: Adding Only The Achievements
Your application already includes your grades, test scores, awards, etc. Hence, your essay shouldn’t just repeat the same information in paragraph format.
Always remember that an essay is a way to show them the person behind the achievements. So show them your personality, the values, and how you think.
Instead of bragging about winning a competition, talk about the process and the difficulties you faced throughout.
Mistake #5: Being Too Negative
It’s completely fine to discuss your struggles, challenges, and failures in your essay.
But here’s the catch: don’t make your essays only about negativity.
So, if you write about tough times, balance it with hope and positive outcomes. In addition, admission committee officers want to know how you rose and not how things dragged you down.
Key Considerations For A Strong College Essay:
We have discussed what not to do when writing your college admission essay. Now let’s talk about what makes an essay stand out in the best possible way.
1. Be Personal & Reflective
Your essays should feel like you are having a conversation. So don’t be afraid to share your quirks, struggles, and your “aha” moments. Then reflect on them. This is when the admission committee officers see your maturity.
2. Show, Don’t Tell
Instead of saying, “I’m hardworking,” give an example:
“I spent weeks experimenting with different designs until my robot finally moved across the room.”
A Pro Tip:
Examples and stories make your essays more vivid and believable.
3. Highlight Growth
Colleges look for students who are ready to learn and grow. Hence, even if you write about failure, emphasize how it changed you.
4. Keep It Simple
Always remember that clarity is the key. Therefore, use straightforward language, short sentences, and ensure a natural flow. For that, write the way you speak and then polish it to make it look professional.
5. Stay True To Yourself
Keep in mind that the best projects sound like a human, and not like a polished robot. Thus, don’t write what you think colleges want to hear. Instead, write what’s true to you.
Final Words:
Writing a college admission essay doesn’t have to feel like climbing a mountain. Hence, to write a winning task, the key is to avoid overused topics, trying to impress, ignoring the prompt, writing only the achievements, and being too negative. Instead, your aim should be to write something real, reflective, and personal.